That's the lingering question at the base of recent conversations in Colchester.

“Even if you built the work-around, there's still a need for improvement along the West Lakeshore Drive for those pedestrians and bikes accessing the services and other amenities along that strip,” said Colchester resident Tom Berry in a public forum Tuesday.

Town officials have spent the better part of 20 years discussing changes needed in Mallett's Bay. In the last week, they've given tours of the land, conducted surveys and collected feedback about what the public would like to see.

“It's great to hear some interesting new ideas and concepts of people having different ideas of looking at a main street in the area,” Hadd said. “Today we heard that maybe dead-ending East Lakeshore Drive. So it's great that people are coming out and giving us their ideas.”

The plan now, is to combine the public feedback and get to work, all with hopes to have it back before the community before the end of the year.

“The idea is hopefully by early fall to bring this back out to the planning commission and have them vet it with the public and say here's what we're thinking of a land use plan. That might translate into zoning regulation. Then bringing it forward to the planning commission and the select board to bring out to public hearing and possibly vote on a land use plan to implement,” Hadd said.